I discovered something very incredible, amazing, fantastic... Snow mobiles are elfs or have elf blood inside... I noticed this during my trip to the Canadian wilderness. We were with my guide in the middle of nowhere, or to be more precise, the only place where nobody ever comes during winter (except one crazy frenchman and his guide).
We were in a BIG 4 by 4, on a trail, with the snow mobiles on the trailer behind. For me the snow mobiles were there only in case of a problem with the car... This was my first mistake. My second mistake was to believe that the snow shoes on the the snow mobile mobiles were just in case also.... The reality was different. One trail, three "ways'', one after the other...
The snow became deeper, my guide stopped the car. I had imagined that we could go by car to our final destination. When my guide understood my missunderstanding, he laughed heartily for a long time. For me the idea of using the snow mobiles was cool, it would be a real adventure. "It was cool" for approximately one second. To be exact, the time it took me to put on my hat and gloves. The cool part stopped as soon as I opened the car door.... Perhaps the 4 by 4 would be more confortable...
I am ready, I take my backpack with my cameras and my lenses, and like a horse, I ride my snow mobile. The first 15 minutes erase the sensation of extreme cold, because it was such fun. The next 2 hours have the same effect.... because it is so hard and physical. I think my arms are turning to stone, not because I am becoming stronger, but because it is so painful.
The good thing is when my guide stops his engine. I know I have arrived (my arms know nothing, they are dead). I stand up, and leave my engine to walk. But I can't walk. I go one step and ''wumph !!!!" One meter of powdery snow. To this day, I still do not understand why my snow mobile stayed above the powder.... Here is my proof, "snow mobiles are elfs or have elf blood inside", they stay on top of the deep snow like an elf in ''The lord of the Rings".
I ask my guide, ''Ok why are we here ? where is it ?'' His answer is the same sound as the opening of the gates of Hell...''One hour and a half by snow shoes...." One hour and a half on a wild, non-existant trail, in the middle of a forest, where tourists do not come... I am a diver, not a snow shoes walker... It is so difficult, but but but, the panaroma is perfect !
Rivers, waterfalls, forest... My guide is a very optimistic and reassuring person. He tells me this : "If you fall in the river, I will pull you out... in the spring !!!". With the current and the ice nobody could save you. Welcome to the Canadian wilderness. I love, really love the wildlife, it's almost a part of me, but, my arms are dead, my legs are dead, I am wet, I am cold and tired... At this point, I think I could burn an ecologist from the Copenhagen climate summit.
Let me share with you some pictures of this day, and enjoy them, because during my trip, it's the only day with a blue sky.
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